Ballymahon

21 Dec 2013

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Club â€™91

Club â€™91

The Club finished for the year with their Annual Christmas dinner. Many thanks from everyone to the Rustic Inn for the lovely meal and all the staff there for the excellent service and also to Seamus and Brendan for the music. Many thanks also to Kitty Doyle for Raffle prize of a Goose, to the Kenagh ladies for attending, lovely to have you all and to Una Flynn for the lovely Christmas Cake which she makes each year for the Club members. Thank you Eileen for your recitation and Bernie for his songs, a great time was had by one and all. On a sad note, the group send their sympathy to their bus driver, Michael and all the Grehan family on the death last week of their mother, Betty. R.I.P. So until next year, a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to everyone.

Defibrillator Group

The Forgney Parish Committee are in the process of providing a defibrillator for the local community to be located most likely at Forgney Church. Training in the use of the defibrillator will be conducted by Darren Mulleady in Tang Community Centre early in the New Year. The training is free of charge and is confined to a group of 10 at a time and takes approximately 4 hours. It is hoped to get at least 20 people from the parish trained over 2 nights. If you are interested in being trained please forward your name to Pat Oâ€™Toole 087-2333998 or Sarah Finlass 086-8258026 as soon as possible. Please support a project that can help save a life in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

Death of Mrs Betty Grehan

The death occurred last week in her 90th year, after a long illness,of Mrs Betty Grehan,(nee Farrell), Athlone Road at Thomond Lodge Nursing Home where she has spent the last three and a half years. Betty is pre-deceased by her husband Michael, or â€œHollyâ€, the well-known Blacksmith and also her daughter Aggie. A quiet lady of deep religious faith, Betty loved cooking and working out crosswords, she was a great neighbour with a generous heart and in earlier years was a great woman to visit the sick in the area. She loved music and was actually a self-taught mouth organ player, Betty could play many a happy tune. She was a very proud mother and loved to see her family and extended family come home from England and other parts. While Betty herself was in the Nursing Home, her daughter Bridgie came to see her every day, also her son Michael and his wife Mary. Her daughters Imelda and Eithne who live in England also came back as often as possible to visit their Mam. Bettyâ€™s remains were removed from Thomond Lodge to St. Matthews Church on Friday evening last and her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday morning after which she was laid to rest in Forgney Cemetery. A large crowd attended on both days to pay their respects to the family of a lovely lady. We extend our sincere sympathy to Bettyâ€™s son Michael, Athlone road, daughters Bridgie (Lloyd), Forgney, Imelda and Eithne, England, aughter-in-law Mary, sons-in-law Terry, England and Michael, Forgney, sisters Aggie, Ballymahon, Eileen and Kathleen, England, brothers Christie and Jodie, England, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and all her relatives and friends. May God grant rest to her Soul.

Fireside Tales

Fireside Tales has yet another book to delight you, edited by Jude Flynn, with tales from around Longford Town and all over the County is now out in the shops to entertain you again this Christmas. Thereâ€™s a story of interest about a huge storm that raged in Abbeyshrule in January 1839 which destroyed houses and orchards in the area and theres also the tale of Peter Doherty from Tashinney who emigrated to Argentina in 1885 as did so many people from here during those times. An article about McKnights Pharmacy which closed in 2000 goes back to 1909 when William McKnight, father of the late Niall McKnight came from County Armagh and opened his new pharmacy business beside the old R.I.C. barracks. And did you know that way back in 1869 twenty one Pub Licences were granted in Ballymahon town, a big change to present day numbers. So if you havâ€™nt all the Christmas presents bought yet, this book would be a good one to buy, it would give someone hours of leisurely reading.

GAA Minor Club

Are holding their annual review on this Friday, 20th December in the G.A.A. Clubhouse from 8p.m. To 9.15p.m. Parents and all interested parties are especially invited and welcome to attend. Everyone at the club wish to thank those who supported them during the year and anyone who helped them in any way. Happy Christmas to you all.

The Pigeons Golf Society

Congratulations to Joe Burke, Ken Lovell, John Joe Rushe and Gerry Harney who won The Pigeons 4 Ball Christmas Scramble held in Moate Golf Club recently. Well done lads.

Traders Association

The Traders are pleased to announce they are running the â€œShop Local Campaignâ€ with local schools again this year. It was a great success last year and helps to raise awareness of the importance of shopping local where possible. The idea is to collect up receipts from local shops to be entered in a draw to win great prizes. We hope all businesses will take part and encourage the children to collect. Many thanks to the parents and staff of St. Matthewâ€™s National School for taking part in this initiative. Happy shopping everyone!

Engagement: Many congratulations to James Ryan, son of Josie and the late Michael, Barnacor who recently announced his engagement to Marian Farrell, Edgeworthstown. We wish James and Marian all the best for the future.

New baby boy

Congratulations to Wayne and Melissa Kelly, Clonard on the birth of their new baby boy, Senan, Iâ€™m sure Cian is delighted with his new brother. We wish you all good health and happiness in the years ahead.

Advent Penance Service

There will be a Penance Service in St. Dominicâ€™s church, Kenagh on Thursday 19th December at 7.30p.m.

A word of thanks

It is appropriate to say â€œThanksâ€ to the committed Group of people who spend one hour a week at Eucharistic Adoration in St. Matthews Church each Tuesday. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament nourishes the soul and brings down many blessings on our families and Parish. More members are needed in 2014 to keep this one special day for the Lord. Please think about becoming involved.

Fundraiser

On Sunday evening next, December 22nd a special fundraising event is taking place in Cooneys Hotel from 7.30p.m. to 9.30p.m. for Longford CIL. As a result of budget cuts to their funding over the last number of years, the Longford Centre for Independent Living are struggling to maintain frontline services to people with disabilities enabling them to remain living in their community independently. All money raised at Sunday eveningâ€™s event will go directly to support people with physical and sensory disabilities to remain living in their own homes and to access their community. Please come along. A Christmas hamper donated by the Colohan family, Creevaghbeg will be raffled on the night, also lots of music, finger food and a bit of craic with lots of Spot prizes. CIL thank you in anticipation.

Congratulations

To Eamon Reilly, son of Donal and Mai, Cloncallow, Treasurer of Forgney football club who has been elected unopposed to Vice-Chairman of Longford County Board. We wish Eamon the best of luck in his new position.

Thank You

The Landevant/Landaul Twinning group wish to thank everyone who supported their fund-raiser in The River Inn on Saturday night last, especially Tommy and Breege Murray for their lovely food and for the use of their premises. Many thanks also to Bernie Connolly for his lively music and congratulations to Carmel McCormack who won the fine Hamper in the Raffle. Their next trip to France will be in August 2014. The Committee wish their supporters and friends a very happy Christmas.

Rural Transport

Longford Community Resources Ltd (LCRL) manage and administer the Rural Transport Programme, which covers the rural regions of Co Longford. They now wish to thank all the passengers and stakeholders who have supported, and indeed campaigned for the continuation of the Programme throughout the year. Spaces are still available for this â€œDoor to doorâ€ service in your area, please contact your Local Provider or to Seamus (Co-Ordinator) at 043-33 45555. slee@lcrl.ie All Age groups are welcome. Timetable: ALL Routes for 2013 will be completed by Tuesday, 31st December. Services for 2014 will resume on Thursday 2nd January. Longford Community Resources would like to wish all Passengers and everyone who supports the Rural Transport programme. â€œA Very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and Good Wishes for the New Yearâ€.

Carol Service

A Carol Service featuring the pupils from the local Schools will take place in St. Matthews church on this Wednesday night, December 18th under the direction of teachers, Ms Libby Malone and Ms Elaine McLoughlin. As in previous years, you will be invited to contribute to a special collection at the Service to assist the work of the local St. Vincent de Paul Society. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please come early as the Church is always full for this lovely event.

Eucharistic Adoration

Over the Christmas period there will be no Eucharistic Adoration in St. Matthews Church on Christmas Eve, Dec 24th or New Yearâ€™s Eve, 31st December. It will resume on January 7th. In the New Year perhaps you would consider adding your name to the list of people who go to the Church for just one hour each Tuesday. In a busy and troubled world we all need the time and space for quiet prayerful reflection. The Adoration takes place each Tuesday from 10.30a.m. to 11.00p.m.

St. Matthews Church

Because of the Carol Service there will be no Mass in St. Matthews Church on Thursday 19th December. Mass however will be held on that day in the home of the Sisters of Mercy, Main Street. Monday 6th January is the Feast of the Epiphany, there will be two Masses that day, 9.00a.m. and 11.30a.m.There will be no Vigil Mass for this Feast. On Thursday, St. Stephens Day, 26th December there will be a Polish Mass at 1.00p.m. Everyone is welcome to come to this Mass and to celebrate with the Polish members of our local parish community. Friday 27th December, no Mass. Monday/Tuesday 30th/31st December: no Mass.

Death of Peter Young

It was with deep regret that we learnt of the sad death last week of Peter Young, Newtown, Ballymore after a very short illness. Peter was a very popular and highly respected member of the local farming community as is his wife Maureen, who taught for a period here in Ballymahon National School. He loved meeting people, was very involved in G.A.A. and was a regular visitor in Ballymahon where many people got to know him over the years, Peter had a word and a smile for everyone. He will be sadly missed. We offer our deepest sympathy to Peterâ€™s wife Maureen, son Liam, daughters Mary and Joan, sister Eudi(Mary), son-in-law Francis, daughter-in-law Mary, grandchildren, and to all his relatives, neighbours and friends. In iothlann De go gcastar sinn.

John Keegan Casey (Leo) Society

The Long saga of Gurteen School has come to an end. It has long been associated with â€œLeoâ€ and his family. The site was leased by the King Harmon family to the school board. This lease expired in the 1980s. Now after several court appearances, barristers, solicitors etc, The John Keegan Casey Soc become full owners. It has now been sold to a local family who intend to renovate it. The 2 school inscription plaques will remain in place and a bronze plaque will go on the front wall. The society have honoured the poet over the last 10 years by publishing everything he wrote, a 500 page book, landmarks at Shrule bridge, Kenagh, Newtowncashel and Rathconrath. Work still to be done are inscription plaques on the Sharskeen river which inspired him.

Sympathy

Sympathy to Sr Kathleen Duffy, former Principal of Convent Primary School, Ballymahon on the death of her brother, Patrick. May he rest in peace.

Seasons greetings

We wish all our readers and friends at home and abroad a very happy and peaceful Christmas. Many thanks for all your support throughout 2013.

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